Source: Ron Jenkins / Getty
In what was supposed to be a year of developing
Victor Wembanyama into the face of the storied franchise, one of the most renowned coaches in the league,
Gregg Popovich, is stepping away.
The head coach is expected to be out for the remainder of the season, and according to
ESPN, the Spurs are unsure about his return in general.
“San Antonio Spurs’ Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich is not expected to return this season, and his future is uncertain as he recovers from a mild stroke suffered in November, league sources tell ESPN,” tweeted ESPN’s NBA Insider Shams Charania.
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Pop —the league’s winningest coach— suffered a
stroke in November at the team’s Frost Bank Arena, just ahead of a game against the
Monessiota Timberwolves.
Team officials were tight-lipped about what happened, just saying he’d be out with an undisclosed illness and assistant coach Mitch Johnson would take his place. Two weeks later, the team explained that he’d had a stroke but was “expected to make a full recovery.”
Popovich eventually released a statement in December thanking everyone for their support and well wishes as he worked hard in rehab to return to the bench.
“This has certainly been an unexpected six weeks for my family and me. As we work together on my recovery, I want to take a moment to share that the outpouring of support we’ve received has been truly overwhelming in the best possible way,” the statement read. “No one is more excited to see me return to the bench than the talented individuals who have been leading my rehabilitation process. They’ve quickly learned that I’m less than coachable.”
The shocking news about Popovich taking a step back comes just days after the Spurs announced that
Wemby would also be out for the remainder of the season after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis. It’s curable, and he’s expected to suit up at the beginning of next season, but for now, he’s forbidden to play contact sports due to the side effects of the blood thinners he’ll be taking for his blood clots.
As we await more news on Popovich’s future with the NBA, see how social media is reacting to the news below,
